Lawrence Wong on advancing mental health

The Government is making mental health and well-being a key priority in its national agenda, said Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence Wong. It means providing a broad suite of solutions and strengthening capabilities across the entire spectrum of care, said Mr Wong. The Government is also redoubling its efforts to better understand the issues that young people face and put in place appropriate interventions based on data and evidence. Speaking in Parliament on Wednesday (Feb 7), Mr Wong highlighted several key moves and targets that the Government aims to achieve by 2030 or earlier. It will increase capacity at the Institute of Mental Health and the redeveloped Alexandra Hospital for those who need specialist care. Capacity at long-term care facilities will be increased to provide step-down care. The number of public sector psychiatrists will be increased by about 30 per cent and psychologists by 40 per cent. Mental health services will be introduced at all polyclinics and another 900 GP clinics. An additional 28,000 frontline personnel and volunteers will be trained to serve at community and social service touchpoints, and identify people struggling with mental health and offer early assistance. At the same time, the Government will redouble its existing efforts. The Ministry of Education is on track to achieving its target of deploying more than 1,000 teacher-counsellors across the schools and providing parents with the resources to support their children’s mental health and well-being needs. More peer support networks will be set up in the community. “These are significant moves. They will require more coordinated efforts ... and ultimately more Government spending. But we will set aside the resources to advance this important agenda,” said Mr Wong. He said these moves aim to reduce waiting times and make mental health services more accessible. They also aim to keep mental health services affordable, through the national health care financing framework. On calls for private insurance coverage outside of healthcare, Mr Wong said the Government will study and review how this coverage can be improved and ensure that financial institutions deal fairly with all customers, including those with mental health conditions. The Government will continue to integrate mental well-being into its Healthier SG and other preventive health programmes. “We sometimes think of body and mind as separate entities but they are closely linked, each affecting the other greatly. So staying active, exercising regularly, connecting with friends in person - not online - learning new skills, contributing to a larger purpose … they are foundational habits that will enable all of us to improve our overall well-being,” said Mr Wong. He stressed that the Government is fully committed to doing more to improve mental health and well-being. “The Government is making policy moves in this direction - by reviewing our education system, narrowing wage gaps and strengthening safety nets so that everyone can be better assured of their basic needs at every life stage and can have the space to venture forth and be the best version of ourselves. But we cannot make this happen through policy alone. Our attitudes, our mindsets must also change and align with our shared aspirations for a refreshed Singapore Dream. Indeed, to achieve all of these goals, we must work together,” he said.